Latest news with #NoPlaceLikeHome
The Journal
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Journal
Ombudsman 'exasperated' over repeated warnings on lifelong impact homelessness can have on children
LAST UPDATE | 1 hr ago THE OMBUDSMAN FOR Children is expected to tell an Oireachtas committee this morning that the impact of homelessness and unstable living conditions on children is 'catastrophic'. Dr Niall Muldoon and other members of the Ombudsman for Children's Office (OCO) will appear before the Oireachtas Housing Committee later this afternoon, alongside the Dublin Region Homelessness Executive and Westmeath County Council. Muldoon will tell TDs and Senators that it is 'exasperating' to have to repeatedly warn of the serious impacts of homelessness on children amid the ongoing housing crisis. He will say that the OCO has been raising many of the same issues that are impacting children's lives and preventing them from fully enjoying their lives over the last 20 years, with child homelessness having grown 'exponentially' in the last ten years. 'As Ombudsman for Children I have made recommendations, met with Ministers and officials, but still every month the number of children who are living in homeless accommodation continues to grow,' Muldoon will say. 'Housing has been identified by the Taoiseach as the 'number one issue' for the current government, and so it should be,' he will tell the committee. Advertisement 'The trouble is that the seriousness of the housing situation has been known for almost a decade now, and because of its longevity the effects have rippled across all of our society. Children however have borne the biggest brunt of the ongoing crisis and we cannot forget that.' Muldoon will say that the move away from local authority housing during the economic crash in 2008 has led to a situation now where 'we are consistently failing more and more children and families who are falling into homelessness'. He will highlight the 2019 No Place Like Home report, which featured children's views and experiences of homelessness and recommended that the Housing Act 1988 be amended to place a statutory duty on local authorities to ensure the best interests of the child is at the centre of decision-making when supporting homeless families. The report also recommended that capital investment in, and output of social and affordable housing be 'significantly increased'. 'These recommendations were reflected in the 2019 report from Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, yet we have seen little or no progress,' Muldoon will say. He will call for the Government to introduce 'bold brave measures' to address 'what is a crisis of epic proportions for children in Ireland'. I know it is not a simple problem to solve but it must be done. 'Until children are considered in their own right, and their specific circumstances addressed, it will be difficult to make significant progress.' According to the latest figures from the Department of Housing, 4,775 children were among a record 15,580 people living in emergency accommodation in the State in April. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Children have ‘borne the biggest brunt' of homelessness crisis
Children have 'borne the biggest brunt' of the homelessness crisis, TDs and Senators will be told. The Ombudsman for Children Dr Niall Muldoon is expected to make the remarks during Tuesday's meeting of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing. The committee, which is to examine the challenges to tackling homelessness, will separately hear that spending on homeless services in Dublin has increased by 337 per cent over the last decade. In his opening statement Mr Muldoon is to tell the politicians that 'over the past 10 years the crisis of homelessness, but in particular child homelessness, has grown exponentially'. READ MORE 'As Ombudsman for Children I have made recommendations, met with Ministers and officials, but still every month the number of children who are living in homeless accommodation continues to grow.' Mr Muldoon will outline how his office published its No Place Like Home report in April 2019 on children's views and experiences of living in family hubs (a form of emergency accommodation). At the time there were 3,784 children in emergency accommodation. This dropped to 2,193 in April 2021 when the pandemic-era eviction ban was in place. Mr Muldoon will say the number 'has climbed every April since – 2,944 in 2022, 3,594 in 2023, 4,214 in 2024 and 4,775 in 2025, which are the most recent figures available.' Overall 15,580 people across all ages were homeless in Ireland at the end of April. Mr Muldoon will tell the committee that 'the impact of homelessness and unstable living conditions on children is catastrophic' and it 'affects every aspect of their lives; education, wellbeing, self-development'. [ Number of children in consistent poverty rises by `staggering' 45,000, report shows Opens in new window ] He will say that 'housing has been identified by the Taoiseach as the 'number one issue' for the current Government. And so it should be. 'The trouble is that the seriousness of the housing situation has been known for almost a decade now, and because of its longevity the effects have rippled across all of our society. 'Children, however, have borne the biggest brunt of the ongoing crisis and we cannot forget that.' He adds: 'The move away from local authority housing during the economic crash of 2008 has led to a situation now where we are consistently failing more and more children and families who are falling into homelessness. 'It is exasperating for me to repeatedly have to make these points, but it must be said again and again: even short-term exposure to homelessness can have a lifelong impact on children.' Separately, the director of the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) Mary Hayes is expected to outline the increased cost of providing homeless services in the capital over the last 10 years. The committee will hear that Dublin provides accommodation and services to approximately 72 per cent of the adults experiencing homelessness nationally. Ms Hayes says that under exchequer arrangements, local authorities must provide at least 10 per cent of the cost of homeless services from their own resources. She adds: 'Expenditure has increased by 337 per cent over the last decade, with the majority spent on emergency accommodation.' A table provided as part of her opening statement shows homeless service expenditure of €73,365,255 in 2015 rising to €320,336,703 last year. The spend in 2025 is expected to be €355,541,935. Ms Hayes says: 'Emergency accommodation is very costly in both human and economic terms and is where most of the funding is spent each year. 'There is a strong will to move away from contracting from the private sector but that can be difficult when the immediate demand for emergency accommodation is so high.'
Associated Press
15-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
His Daughters Health Launches to Empower Individuals and Families and Address Their Housing and Health Needs
- Where Clinical Care Meets Community Wisdom, and Communities Heal, Thrive, and Rise - RIVERSIDE, Calif., May 14, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — A seismic shift is underway in supporting individuals and families with complex needs, including homelessness, behavioral health challenges, and chronic medical conditions. His Daughters House proudly launches His Daughters Health, an integrated health and housing division redefining care and assistance in California. Our one-stop model prioritizes stability, health equity, and long-term outcomes, ensuring individuals and families receive coordinated, trauma-informed care that addresses immediate needs and builds lasting pathways to self-sufficiency. His Daughters House was founded on a passionate desire to assist those experiencing homelessness in navigating through difficult times. Leaving behind corporate careers, they stepped into uncertainty with a bold vision: to create a place where healing wasn't temporary, but transformative. His Daughters Health is offering a one-stop resource by providing culturally responsive, trauma-informed care, along with comprehensive programs to support the healing and well-being of those affected by homelessness. This is not just a program. It is a working model of real systems change in action. His Daughters Health offers something innovative in the space of social services. It provides Medi-Cal services through a trauma-informed model led by Community Health Workers (CHWs) who come from the very communities they now serve. Additionally, programs like Housed to Heal, No Place Like Home, and the Nextgen Navigators Youth Program provide more than shelter. They offer a structured path from crisis to stability, ensuring that survivors and youth not only secure housing but also receive the support they need for long-term healing and independence. 'The launch of His Daughters Health is a major milestone in our efforts to not only help survivors escape violence but also empower them to rebuild their lives with dignity, stability, and hope,' said Dr. Adrianne L. Mason, CEO & Executive Director of His Daughters House. 'Our approach addresses the root causes of domestic violence, including housing insecurity, economic stress, and health disparities that disproportionately impact marginalized women.' said Tolia Terrell-Vernon, COO & Program Director of His Daughters House. This moment is urgently needed. National data shows that Black women experience domestic violence at higher rates than any other group and are three times more likely to be experience death because of domestic violence. More than 81% of women survivors report chronic physical and mental health issues tied directly to trauma, and 38% of homeless women cite domestic violence as the immediate cause of losing their housing. His Daughters Health is confronting these realities head-on. The organization's health and resource fairs expand community access to CalAIM services, mental health support, and relevant health education. These events provide consistent outreach and connection for survivors who may not otherwise reach traditional systems of care. KEY SERVICES INCLUDE: To support His Daughters House and His Daughters Health, please visit the link below to donate or shop our HDH store, ABOUT HIS DAUGHTERS HOUSE His Daughters House (HDH) was established in 2019 and is committed to empowering women by offering mentorship, community support, and personal development opportunities. His Daughters House' mission is to offer temporary housing assistance and long-term healthcare solutions to individuals and families who are chronically homeless, at risk of homelessness, or in need of access to healthcare services. To learn more about His Daughters House visit MEDIA CONTACT: James Whitfield (951) 729-6282 [email protected] MEDIA KIT: NEWS SOURCE: His Daughters House Keywords: Health and Medical, His Daughters House, His Daughters Health, Community Health Workers, CEO Dr. Adrianne L. Mason, domestic violence prevention and life skills classes, RIVERSIDE, Calif. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (His Daughters House) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P126207 APNF0325A To view the original version, visit: © 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
CBS News
04-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Steve Lasker, renowned photojournalist who worked for decades with CBS Chicago, dies at 94
Steve Lasker, an award-winning newspaper and television photojournalist who spent 25 years with CBS Chicago, died last week. Lasker passed away on Thursday, May 1. He was 94. Lasker was just 13 years old when he began photographing World War II aircraft at Midway Airport, according to a bio from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Lasker went on to shoot photos for the student newspaper at Hyde Park High School and for the Hyde Park Herald neighborhood paper. As a young man, he also hung out at Chicago firehouses and rode with fire crews on emergency calls, where he took photos and sometimes sold them to insurance companies, his bio noted. On May 25, 1950, Lasker was hanging around at a firehouse when a horrible accident happened on the city's South Side. A Green Hornet Streetcar collided with a gasoline truck at 63rd and State streets, causing a horrific fire that killed 34 people. Lasker was the first photographer on the scene of the accident, and he sold his photos to Life Magazine and WNBQ-TV (now WMAQ-TV), NBC 5, where he was hired to shoot still photos for television newscasts, his bio noted. After five years with NBC 5, Lasker was hired as a press photographer at the Chicago American newspaper. In this role, Lasker was the first photographer on the scene for the tragic fire at Our Lady of Angels Catholic School in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on Dec. 1, 1958. The fire claimed the lives of 92 students and three nuns. As noted in his bio, Lasker documented tragedy with several heartbreaking images — including one showing firefighter Richard Scheidt carrying the body of a 10-year-old boy, John Jajkowski, from the scene. Steve Lasker Scott Lasker In 1969, Lasker joined CBS Chicago, WBBM-TV, Channel 2, as a news and documentary cameraman. At Channel 2, Lasker worked in the field for many years on a two-man electronic news gathering team with sound man Bob Gadbois, and his assignments took him around the city, country, and beyond. Lasker spent 27 years at CBS Chicago. His assignments, to name just a very few, included a trip to Poland with Walter Jacobson in the late 70s, a trip to New York with reporter Phil Walters to cover the murder of John Lennon in 1980, and a variety of assignments with Bill Kurtis and covering organized crime and society's seedy underbelly with John Drummond. Lasker also worked at CBS Chicago with the late producer Scott Craig on several award-winning documentary projects. They included, "Oscar Brown is Back in Town," featuring singer and activist Oscar Brown; "No Place Like Home," which tracked the plight of the unhoused in Chicago; and "The Trial of Shoeless Joe Jackson," a dramatic reenactment that brought viewers to the courtroom after the 1919 scandal in which members of the White Sox conspired to throw the World Series. Lasker won several awards for his work with CBS Chicago. Steve Lasker National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences After retiring from CBS Chicago in 1995, Lasker shot photos part-time for the Chicago Tribune and later shot commercial photography. He was inducted into the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Silver Circle in 2012. Lasker is survived by his wife of 60 years, Frances; daughters Wendy and Stacy; sons David and Scott, who both followed him into photojournalism; and grandson Jack. A memorial service is planned for Monday.
News.com.au
28-04-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Revealed: How financial situation is hitting home for Aussies
Shock research has revealed the biggest hit Aussies are taking beats both interest rates and housing prices combined, with many taking drastic steps to combat it. A survey conducted for Great Southern Bank's No Place Like Home report found almost half of all respondents (49 per cent) had changed their medium to long-term financial plans or savings strategy in the 12 months due to the cost of living. That one factor alone outweighed even current interest rates (22pc) and property prices (15pc) combined, with the survey findings Aussies were taking a variety of steps to cope with everything up for discussion – except kids, pets and food quality. MORE: Three cuts: 8 new banks slash rates before RBA May interest rate decision already made for Reserve Bank Dining out is now a luxury not an every-week occurrence for many. Great Southern Bank chief customer officer Rolf Stromsoe said Australians were taking practical steps towards accommodating those cost of living pressures. 'They've made some hard choices on the way. Over half of Australians (54pc) have cut back on their entertainment costs, and almost two-fifths (38pc) have cancelled a subscription service.' 'The savings they are making with those economies are probably helping to pay for the things they won't do without – the essentials and luxuries that matter most to them.' Among the things Aussies are refusing to compromise on were quality food (44pc), their pets (31pc), and children's needs (28pc). Some key lessons learned include almost two-thirds (64pc) of homeowners saying they wished they'd set up savings habits while still in school and over half (52pc) wished they'd bought a home sooner. MORE: Shock: Brisbane prices to smash Sydney Australia's biggest political property moguls revealed An inner Brisbane renter, Brianna (surname withheld), 36, has set up a special account to save for her pet's needs. An inner Brisbane renter, Brianna (surname withheld), 36, said she hopes to be able to have her own home one day, even if it feels like a pipe dream at present. 'I love where I'm renting, but it's still a goal to one day own a home. I know it would give me a lot of security and stability, which is important to me. Sometimes it feels like every time you get ahead, another thing comes up, and it can make the savings journey challenging.' 'That said, I wouldn't cut back on some things, like my dog, Piccolo – who I see as my dependent. Even though he is a very high needs dog, I would never skimp on him. He's on a special diet with fresh meats every day, and he needs medication too, so I have a monthly vet subscription which helps me save money too.' She has a savings account dedicated to her dog's needs and has created other accounts for different goals. 'For example, I might change the name to whatever I'm working on, whether that's 'Uluru', 'A weekend in Melbourne', or 'Piccolo' for my dog. One day, I do want to own a home, which is why I have my 'Big' savings account; I rarely touch this. I want to be able to afford a house and give my dog the yard he deserves.' Mr Stromsoe said 'it's never too late to make smart financial decisions'. 'At Great Southern Bank, we provide Australians with practical tools, competitive savings products and expert tips to help save more effectively, grow wealth, and confidently take steps towards homeownership.' Originally published as Revealed: How financial situation is hitting home for Aussies
